How to Become an IT Intern

New: LaunchPath is now available in the Bay Region after being beta-tested with the community colleges in the Sacramento region. LaunchPathwas built by the FCCC to facilitate matches between students and employers in their career pathway industry sectors and create opportunities for work-based learning. This industry-focused training addresses the workforce “skills gap” and enables students to master the skills required to attain careers that align with their interests.LaunchPathbrings together California Community Colleges, Linked Learning high schools, and regional employers for meaningful internship experiences. The advanced matching and badging platform identifies students with the right interests and experiences and simplifies the process for creating beneficial work-based learning experiences for these students.

Current Process

The program takes recommendations from faculty at local community colleges. It does not draw from submitted letters or resumes. Interns must be recommended by someone who has taught them and knows their work. Faculty contacts have included Tom Murphy (Contra Costa College), Cheryl Martucci (Diablo Valley College), Leslie Gravino (Las Positas) Sandy Jones (Los Medanos College) Sam Bowne, (City College of San Francisco), and Richard Grotegut( Ohlone CC).

Specifically, follow these steps

Contact the Instructor/Coordinator and indicate an interest.

Review the job description provided by the employer

Prepare a resume, gather references, and review interview techniques

Submit resume, references and transcripts to the college coordinator

Complete the screening process, apply for the job, and receive an offer

Register for class

Attend general orientation for selected students and read applicable class material

Develop learning objectives in cooperation with the company supervisor and instructor

Students should show expertise through coursework applicable to one of these areas:

Second Year Option: In a few cases, we keep students who show promise, need experience, and are involved in a longer term education program for a second intern year.

Summer only

At times, we offer positions during the spring and summer, so not all employment follows the annual program.

Pay Rate

Intern salary ranges between $10-$16/hr with the average around $14/hr. We give credit for education and prior working experience, so that the pay rate differentiates those students at the community college who are coming directly from high school and bring little work experience to the job, and those students who already have other degrees or work experience.

Recruitment to a Career at the Lab

Hiring into a temporary or career position at the lab is solely based on openings at any given time, and subject to workload and budget conditions. There is no guarantee of a job after the internship.

However, IT management uses the intern program to observe possible candidates during real-time exposure to Lab systems. As a result of the experience, the intern often wants to continue working at the Lab, and the Lab often wants the intern to continue on in a full time position. As of 2013, over one third of interns have progressed to working for the Lab. See Current Staff who Began as Interns.

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